Nearly 40 West Valley College students traveled across the state and country in spring 2026 on tours of university campuses organized by our Puente and Umoja learning communities.
“(The tours) allowed me to see how each school has its own environment, programs, and overall vibe, which really opened my perspective on what I’m looking for in my future,” said student Itzel Cruz
Itzel, a business administration major, joined a Puente tour with 18 West Valley peers and 20 Mission College students. The group visited the University of California, Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, California State University Monterey Bay, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Puente — meaning "bridge" in Spanish — brings together first-year students in shared courses and supports them in making plans to transfer.
It’s important for West Valley students to experience four-year institutions firsthand, said Puente Program Coordinator Joe Bucher.
“Visiting universities helps Puente students see themselves in those spaces, making transfer feel real and within reach,” he said.
Umoja Community Coordinator Philip Severe led 20 West Valley students and eight Las Positas students on visits to seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
HBCU tours let WVC students explore institutions beyond California and connect directly with students at Spelman and Morehouse colleges and at Fisk, Tuskegee, Alabama State, Clark Atlanta, and Fort Valley State universities.
The group also visited cultural landmarks including the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery and the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.
“This is the opportunity for our African American/Black students to be on campuses that are Black Student Serving Institutions with a long history of equity and justice,” Severe said. “They get to speak to students, faculty, and administrators in person and get their questions answered.”
Find out more about the Puente Program, Umoja Community, and other West Valley College Learning Communities at our website.